Dragon roars thanks to Welsh Assembly - press release
MUSIC industry talent-scouts will know where to go in their search for the successors to The Manic Street Preachers and The Stereophonics.
An address tucked away on an industrial park north of Pontypool may appear an unlikely destination, but it’s the living, breathing heart of the new music scene in Torfaen.
Thanks to a grant from the Welsh Assembly Government, the Dragon Bands project at the industrial park in Pontnewynydd is proving a major hit.
“It’s where young and old can develop their music talents – and the power of music to bring some good into people’s lives should never be underestimated,” project manager Angela Byrne said.
“It’s wonderful to see how the new facilities we are developing here are helping to bring people to together. Our youngest member is eight and gets up early on a Sunday morning to grab his space and practice his drumming. Our oldest member is 62 and it’s great to see young and old enjoying their music and mixing together.”
The Dragon Bands project has come a long way since it began life in 2001 in a couple of rooms in Mrs Byrne’s house.
“The project outgrew that venue very quickly,” she laughed. “We were lucky that an unit became available on the industrial park and we have now expanded into another unit we call our annexe development.”
The Dragon Bands project has received funding from a number of different sources, but it received a major boost with a grant of £175,185 from CFAP – the Welsh Assembly Government’s Community Facilities and Activities Programme.
“The Assembly Government’s money has been magnificent,” said Mrs Byrne.
“We have been able to refurbish the annexe, include a healthy eating cafe, provide soundproof rehearsal rooms and put in a lift for the disabled.”
The project received the Royal seal of approval two years ago when the Princess Royal, Princess Anne, visited Dragon Bands.
“That was a great day and the Princess built time into her busy schedule to listen to the youngsters perform songs they had written especially for her. It really was a red letter day for Dragon Bands.”
Mrs Byrne said she was proud the way the community of Torfaen had embraced the project.
“It is no secret that this area has had its problems. We used to get terrible trouble with everything from drug problems, car thefts and graffiti. I am delighted to say we have banished those problems from the area around Dragon Bands.
“Part of that is down to the way the community has responded to the Dragon Bands project. They have taken ownership of the whole idea. All the new things we have added to the project came from the ideas of the people who use the centre.
“Because they feel they have ownership of the project, they take a great pride in what goes on here and look after the facilities we offer.
“Throughout the development of the project, the Welsh Assembly Government has been very supportive. We have also been lucky in having the support of Torfaen Borough Council and other agencies. We have also had tremendous support from the music industry, including a gift from the world famous Marshall Amps.”
The Dragon Bands project also includes a 24-hour internet radio station called Flame.
Head presenter Kelly Tucker said: “The Flame project is very exciting and we are looking to develop it further and, once we have enough people trained in how to operate the equipment, we are looking to get a community radio licence from the broadcasting authorities.”
Mrs Byrne added: “You can’t sum up in one sentence what this place does because it is everything from a community venue and social centre to cafe, rehearsal rooms, radio station and a music studio where budding artists and bands can record their own material and then burn their own CDs.
“Who knows? Dragon Bands could be the catalyst for providing Wales with worthy successors to The Manics and The Stereophonics!”
CFAP - The Community Facilities and Activities Programme is a grant scheme operated by the Welsh Assembly Government to help community or voluntary organisations provide facilities or carry out activities which will promote the regeneration of communities. Since its launch in 2002 CFAP has proved to be a highly successful grant programme. A total of £64 million has been awarded to 660 projects across the length and breadth of Wales.
Projects have included the refurbishment of church and village halls, work to make community properties accessible to the disabled, buying part of a former airfield for community use and restoring historic buildings for community use.
The CFAP is run from The Welsh Assembly Government’s Merthyr Tydfil office - Communities Facilities and Activities Programme (CFAP), Communities Directorate, Welsh Assembly Government, Merthyr Tydfil Office, Rhydycar, Merthyr Tydfil, CF48 1UZ
Weblink:
http://www.dragonbands.com
Home from home: Dragon Bands project manager Angela Byrne and Flame Radio head presenter Kelly Tucker take a time-out on the sofa in the foyer of the centre.
Press release issued by Robert Lloyd on behalf of the Welsh Assembly Government.
An address tucked away on an industrial park north of Pontypool may appear an unlikely destination, but it’s the living, breathing heart of the new music scene in Torfaen.
Thanks to a grant from the Welsh Assembly Government, the Dragon Bands project at the industrial park in Pontnewynydd is proving a major hit.
“It’s where young and old can develop their music talents – and the power of music to bring some good into people’s lives should never be underestimated,” project manager Angela Byrne said.
“It’s wonderful to see how the new facilities we are developing here are helping to bring people to together. Our youngest member is eight and gets up early on a Sunday morning to grab his space and practice his drumming. Our oldest member is 62 and it’s great to see young and old enjoying their music and mixing together.”
The Dragon Bands project has come a long way since it began life in 2001 in a couple of rooms in Mrs Byrne’s house.
“The project outgrew that venue very quickly,” she laughed. “We were lucky that an unit became available on the industrial park and we have now expanded into another unit we call our annexe development.”
The Dragon Bands project has received funding from a number of different sources, but it received a major boost with a grant of £175,185 from CFAP – the Welsh Assembly Government’s Community Facilities and Activities Programme.
“The Assembly Government’s money has been magnificent,” said Mrs Byrne.
“We have been able to refurbish the annexe, include a healthy eating cafe, provide soundproof rehearsal rooms and put in a lift for the disabled.”
The project received the Royal seal of approval two years ago when the Princess Royal, Princess Anne, visited Dragon Bands.
“That was a great day and the Princess built time into her busy schedule to listen to the youngsters perform songs they had written especially for her. It really was a red letter day for Dragon Bands.”
Mrs Byrne said she was proud the way the community of Torfaen had embraced the project.
“It is no secret that this area has had its problems. We used to get terrible trouble with everything from drug problems, car thefts and graffiti. I am delighted to say we have banished those problems from the area around Dragon Bands.
“Part of that is down to the way the community has responded to the Dragon Bands project. They have taken ownership of the whole idea. All the new things we have added to the project came from the ideas of the people who use the centre.
“Because they feel they have ownership of the project, they take a great pride in what goes on here and look after the facilities we offer.
“Throughout the development of the project, the Welsh Assembly Government has been very supportive. We have also been lucky in having the support of Torfaen Borough Council and other agencies. We have also had tremendous support from the music industry, including a gift from the world famous Marshall Amps.”
The Dragon Bands project also includes a 24-hour internet radio station called Flame.
Head presenter Kelly Tucker said: “The Flame project is very exciting and we are looking to develop it further and, once we have enough people trained in how to operate the equipment, we are looking to get a community radio licence from the broadcasting authorities.”
Mrs Byrne added: “You can’t sum up in one sentence what this place does because it is everything from a community venue and social centre to cafe, rehearsal rooms, radio station and a music studio where budding artists and bands can record their own material and then burn their own CDs.
“Who knows? Dragon Bands could be the catalyst for providing Wales with worthy successors to The Manics and The Stereophonics!”
CFAP - The Community Facilities and Activities Programme is a grant scheme operated by the Welsh Assembly Government to help community or voluntary organisations provide facilities or carry out activities which will promote the regeneration of communities. Since its launch in 2002 CFAP has proved to be a highly successful grant programme. A total of £64 million has been awarded to 660 projects across the length and breadth of Wales.
Projects have included the refurbishment of church and village halls, work to make community properties accessible to the disabled, buying part of a former airfield for community use and restoring historic buildings for community use.
The CFAP is run from The Welsh Assembly Government’s Merthyr Tydfil office - Communities Facilities and Activities Programme (CFAP), Communities Directorate, Welsh Assembly Government, Merthyr Tydfil Office, Rhydycar, Merthyr Tydfil, CF48 1UZ
Weblink:
http://www.dragonbands.com
Home from home: Dragon Bands project manager Angela Byrne and Flame Radio head presenter Kelly Tucker take a time-out on the sofa in the foyer of the centre.
Press release issued by Robert Lloyd on behalf of the Welsh Assembly Government.
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